Welcome
Welcome to May’s round-up, a month in which we have truly spanned the audio spectrum, from compact convenience to high-end isolation. It’s been an exceptionally busy few weeks for the ears, kick-started by a fascinating look at the dorpo DMP-A1 streaming DAC and followed closely by a deep dive into desktop and active solutions from Edifier and Elipson.
Analogue enthusiasts haven’t been left out, either. We wrapped up our extensive, multi-part evaluation of the Titanic Audio Anchor Plate isolation platform to see just how much blacker a background it can carve out. Elsewhere, Ian has been hard at work putting two spectacular standmounts through their paces—the boutique Ophidian Seren and, last month, the celebratory Acoustic Energy AE1 40th Anniversary edition. Add in major industry announcements from DALI and AVID, and there’s plenty to unpack.
There’s plenty to look forward to as well, with reviews of equipment from Rega, Unitra, Node Audio, Triangle, and AVID in the pipeline.
So grab an iced coffee, sit back, put on Paul McCartney’s new album, and dive in.
Simon Wilce
Editor, HiFi and Music Source
🎧 New Reviews
Click on the pictures for the review.
Elipson Prestige Facet 6B Active BT (26 May 2026) – Review by Ian Ringstead
Reviewed by Ian Ringstead, these active standmount speakers, which feature a 25mm tweeter and a 140mm mid-bass driver, combine traditional Elipson aesthetics with modern wireless connectivity.
Elipson Prestige Facet II 6 Active BT Highlights
Ophidian Seren Stand Mount Loudspeaker (18 May 2026) – Review by Ian Ringstead
Also reviewed by Ian, this piece looks closely at Ophidian’s compact engineering and how these standmounts handle imaging and scale.
Ophidian Seren Loudspeaker Highlights
dorpo DMP-A1 Streaming DAC (11 May 2026) – Review by Simon Wilce
A comprehensive look at this all-in-one streaming DAC and pre-amplifier, testing its digital processing, interface usability, and sonic presentation.
dorpo DMP-A1 Highlights
Edifier M90 Compact Desktop Speakers (7 May 2026) – Review by Simon Wilce
A hands-on review of these highly compact, budget-friendly desktop speakers to see how much performance they can squeeze out of a small workspace footprint.
Edifier M90 Compact Speaker Highlights
Titanic Audio Anchor Plate Isolation Platform (Part II) (30 April 2026) – Review by Simon Wilce
A follow-up piece diving deeper into the real-world performance benefits of this high-end isolation system when paired with sensitive analogue source components.
Titanic Audio Anchor Plate Part II Highlights
📰 New News
Click on the pictures for more details.
DALI VEGA Launch (21 May 2026)
Coverage of DALI’s brand new “All-In-One” Music Player, marking a significant entry into highly integrated, premium streaming systems.
AVID Ingenium SE Turntable (21 May 2026)
An overview of AVID’s newly announced Ingenium SE, targeted at vinyl enthusiasts looking for entry-level high-end performance.
Campfire Audio Chimera (20 May 2026)
News coverage on the official launch of Campfire Audio’s latest earphone design.
Musical Fidelity M5xi & M6xi Integrated Amplifiers (7 May 2026)
Details on the distribution announcement via Henley Audio regarding these powerhouse new integrated amplifiers.
✨Coming Up on HF&MS
This month, we will review the Trilogy Audio 921 integrated amplifier, which happens to coincide with the Unitra WSH805 integrated amplifier being in the building as well. I have been enjoying Rega’s Nd9 MM cartridge so much that I have forgotten I need to review it, so that should emerge this month as well. We also have the Triangle Capella Active loudspeakers here, sourced with the glorious iFi iDSD PHANTOM.
Ready to go, and coming shortly will be a review of the Node Audio SS-1s under two pairs of loudspeakers. The impact of these Best of 2024 isolators, previously reviewed under various electronics and turntables, is stunning.
Finally, we hope to get an early listen to some of AVID’s new products, including the Ingenium SE turntable, discussed above. There are other new products coming from AVID too.
🎵 New Music
May has been a good month for new music, notably from Paul McCartney, Joe Webb and The Lemon Twigs. McCarney’s new album is a home-recorded acoustic tapestry that reflects on his pre-Beatles upbringing in and around Dungeon Road in Liverpool. Joe Ebb’s contemporary jazz is summertime on vinyl and Look For Your Mind!, by The Lemon Twigs has rich, complex vocal harmonies and a distinct mid-60s Beach Boys influence blended seamlessly with their signature popular style.
Since the HF&MS playlists have attracted commebnt I have enclosed a few of the recent playlists used in the dorpo review and the current Node Audio SS-1 review. The Slave to the Rhythm playlist is also on heavy rotation at the momnent.
Further Reading
